Mumbai Caramel prays for peace in a city ravaged by bombs
by Nirmala Carvalho
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Caramel celebrated in the monastery of Andheri East, on the outskirts of Mumbai. The sisters pray for the city humiliated by bombs, for the wounded, the families of those killed. But mostly because they pray that in Mumbai and in India peace, harmony, mutual tolerance may grow. The testimony of Sr. Mary Joseph, 40 years converted from Hinduism.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The feast of Our Lady of Mount Caramel, celebrated today in the Carmelite monastery in Andheri East, was an opportunity to ask God and Our Lady for peace for the city, which on July 13 was again targeted by terrorism.
Since early morning, friends and relatives of the sisters have moved to prepare the feast, talking softly and moving tables and chairs quietly not to spoil the silence of the cloister.
The monastery of the Carmelites in Andheri East, on the outskirts of Mumbai is an oasis of silence and peace, even more appreciated in this period of instability and insecurity that afflicts Mumbai after three bombs exploded in downtown, in busy areas.
The bombings targeted Dadar, Zaveri Bazaar and the Opera House, home to the gold market and that of gems and diamonds. The frustration of the people over the carnage that killed 21 people and wounded more than 100, is added to that of the police, who are unable to find any leads, given that all traces have been washed away by monsoon rains.
The city knows no rest, but here at the monastery, all speak of peace. The sisters are a community of contemplative life, but this does not mean they are separated from the world. On the contrary, they are very aware of the pains and problems. These days, they are relentlessly praying for the city humiliated by bombs, for the wounded, the families of those killed. But mostly because they in Mumbai and in India peace, harmony, mutual tolerance may grow..
For the Mass of Our Lady of Mount Caramel, chief concelebrant, Msgr. Agnelo Gracias, asked all present to pray for peace in "this house of prayer and peace" which is the monastery.
"The Carmelite life - said Msgr. Gracias - is a life hidden from the world, but it is a life for God, for the Church and the world. We who constantly run around, weighed down by a lot of unnecessary things, bombarded by noise and violence, we tend to forget the deeper meaning of life that instead we see here testified. "
The bishop compared the tradition of Mount Caramel, the place where Elijah was looking for a relationship with Yahweh, with the Hindu tradition of the Himalayas and Mount Kailash, considered to be a place where divinity dwells.
And returning to the pain that still envelops the city, he said that "Mary also went through dark times in which she did not understand ... Hence the value of silence, of contemplation, of prayer to make room for God."
Among those living in the Carmelite monastery is Sister Mary Joseph, baptized 40 years ago just by Msgr. Gracias (then a simple priest). Sister Mary Joseph (named Radha Krishnan a convert from Hinduism), told AsiaNews of her joy for the faith in Christ: "I want to shout to the world how wonderful it is to belong to Jesus ... At the same time I wonder: who am I to have been chosen and to be filled with this grace? There are millions of girls and boys better than me, who have grown up in the Catholic faith since childhood. How I wish that everyone, young and old, could understand the enormous treasure of happiness and peace that the Church, our mother, can offer her children. "
Since early morning, friends and relatives of the sisters have moved to prepare the feast, talking softly and moving tables and chairs quietly not to spoil the silence of the cloister.
The monastery of the Carmelites in Andheri East, on the outskirts of Mumbai is an oasis of silence and peace, even more appreciated in this period of instability and insecurity that afflicts Mumbai after three bombs exploded in downtown, in busy areas.
The bombings targeted Dadar, Zaveri Bazaar and the Opera House, home to the gold market and that of gems and diamonds. The frustration of the people over the carnage that killed 21 people and wounded more than 100, is added to that of the police, who are unable to find any leads, given that all traces have been washed away by monsoon rains.
The city knows no rest, but here at the monastery, all speak of peace. The sisters are a community of contemplative life, but this does not mean they are separated from the world. On the contrary, they are very aware of the pains and problems. These days, they are relentlessly praying for the city humiliated by bombs, for the wounded, the families of those killed. But mostly because they in Mumbai and in India peace, harmony, mutual tolerance may grow..
For the Mass of Our Lady of Mount Caramel, chief concelebrant, Msgr. Agnelo Gracias, asked all present to pray for peace in "this house of prayer and peace" which is the monastery.
"The Carmelite life - said Msgr. Gracias - is a life hidden from the world, but it is a life for God, for the Church and the world. We who constantly run around, weighed down by a lot of unnecessary things, bombarded by noise and violence, we tend to forget the deeper meaning of life that instead we see here testified. "
The bishop compared the tradition of Mount Caramel, the place where Elijah was looking for a relationship with Yahweh, with the Hindu tradition of the Himalayas and Mount Kailash, considered to be a place where divinity dwells.
And returning to the pain that still envelops the city, he said that "Mary also went through dark times in which she did not understand ... Hence the value of silence, of contemplation, of prayer to make room for God."
Among those living in the Carmelite monastery is Sister Mary Joseph, baptized 40 years ago just by Msgr. Gracias (then a simple priest). Sister Mary Joseph (named Radha Krishnan a convert from Hinduism), told AsiaNews of her joy for the faith in Christ: "I want to shout to the world how wonderful it is to belong to Jesus ... At the same time I wonder: who am I to have been chosen and to be filled with this grace? There are millions of girls and boys better than me, who have grown up in the Catholic faith since childhood. How I wish that everyone, young and old, could understand the enormous treasure of happiness and peace that the Church, our mother, can offer her children. "
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